Cu Wushuang ascended quickly and descended just as rapidly. Seeing this fierce woman plummeting like a meteor from the sky, Lin Bai was slightly taken aback. What's going on now? Can she control her own speed?

"Senior Sister Cu, the misunderstanding has been cleared up." Seeing Jiang Yuru made no move to stop her, Lin Bai looked up and shouted.

"Cleared up my ass!" Cu Wushuang had lost all reason. "Today, either you die or I do!"

"Senior Sister Cu, are you looking for love?" Lin Bai smiled faintly. Cupid's Bow materialized in his palm, its cold, gleaming arrowhead aimed directly at Cu Wushuang.

Cu Wushuang's momentum faltered abruptly, as if she had encountered a terrifying beast. She braked hard, hastily dodging Lin Bai's arrow.

But if she moved left, Lin Bai's arrowhead followed.

If she moved right, Lin Bai's arrowhead followed.

Cu Wushuang's face turned the color of pig's liver. Infuriated, she seethed, "Lin Bai, are you even a man? Do you only know these dirty, despicable tricks? Can't you fight an honorable battle?"

"Senior Sister Cu, love resides in the heart. With love comes procreation; with procreation, humanity thrives. How can that be called dirty and despicable?" Lin Bai chuckled. "Suggesting that every disagreement must be settled by a life-or-death battle, like you do—that is the true, inhumane, deviant path. Senior Sister Cu, don't be so stubborn!"

"..." Cu Wushuang.

Everyone was silent.

Dao Xu glanced at Pei Yanzong beside him. Pairing this old Daoist with another old man? Procreation my foot!

"If you're like me, steadfast on the Great Path of Love, more and more people will gather around. But if you're like Senior Sister Cu, always resorting to life-and-death struggles, the world will have fewer and fewer outstanding individuals. Isn't it clear who is right and who is wrong?" Lin Bai smiled, continuing, "Senior Sister Cu, stop making a scene. Join us in promoting the Path of Rules!"

"..." Xin Shang and the others instantly felt insulted.

Did they join the Justice League because of the Love Principle? They were purely threatened into it by the Love Principle!

Love, such a beautiful word, was being utterly defiled by this Evil Spirit before them.

"Lin, the Storekeeper's rhetorical skills are becoming truly formidable!" Bitter Melon Vine exclaimed.

"Is that rhetoric? That's just pure shamelessness!" Silver stated. "If I were in Lin, the Storekeeper's position, I'd die before I could utter such words."

"Exactly! Compared to him, even villains seem as innocent as lambs," Not Settling For Less said. "Yet such a person constantly spouts love and justice. It's utterly shameless."

...

Why don't you put down your bow and then say that?

Cu Wushuang glared at Lin Bai, seething with unspoken rage, terrified that a single wrong word would cause Lin Bai's arrow to fly.

Why does such a scoundrel exist in this world? Why is there such a nauseating Daoist law and Divine Skill? No. The disgusting one is the person using the Divine Skill... For the Love Principle to be mastered by such a person, it's as if the heavens have gone blind. Poor her, a dignified Nascent Soul Cultivator, forced into this awkward, hovering stalemate in mid-air! How embarrassing!

Her initial surge of energy waned, then faltered, and finally exhausted itself.

As she calmed down, the anger in Cu Wushuang's heart gradually dissipated, replaced entirely by a chilling fear of Lin Bai's control.

She was in a bind.

...

"Senior Sister Jiang, considering our connection through Qing Qin, the Righteous Door and Hundred Flower Valley should ideally maintain friendly terms for generations. I, Lin, do not wish to bully others with my power. Please, could you try to persuade Senior Sister Cu?" Sensing Cu Wushuang's emotions shift from anger to fear, Lin Bai smiled faintly. He issued a protection command to the two Nascent Soul Puppets beside him and then spoke to Jiang Yuru with a gentle smile.

And you don't call this bullying with power? After bullying someone, you don't even let them complain...

Jiang Yuru sighed helplessly and, steeling herself, said, "Senior Sister Wushuang, please come down. What happened earlier was just a misunderstanding caused by one of the Descended Ones. It will all be fine if we talk it through."

「Meanwhile.」

Lin Bai sent a voice transmission to Cu Wushuang in the sky: "Senior Sister, stop trying to act tough. Take the offered way out and come down. Otherwise, if I loose this arrow, you'll lose control of your fate. Daoist Dao Xu has always been dissatisfied with Pei Yanzong and is looking to find someone else to cultivate the Love Principle with!"

Cu Wushuang stared at Lin Bai, her breath caught in her chest, feeling so wronged she wanted to cry. Damn you! Is this your way of persuading people?

Lin Bai's voice transmission continued, like a demonic whisper gnawing at her soul: "Cultivation isn't easy. Are you really planning to die to preserve your honor? Being killed and turned into my Puppet isn't glorious either. It'd be one thing if you didn't regain your senses, but if I restored them, and you were subjected to gossip and finger-pointing, wanting to die but unable to—wouldn't that be even more humiliating? Between two evils, choose the lesser. Let's bury the hatchet with a smile; this is already the most dignified outcome. I'm giving you face, so please, give me, the Alliance Hierarch, some face too, alright?"

Every word from Lin Bai struck like a heavy hammer against the most vulnerable parts of Cu Wushuang's heart, blocking all her paths of retreat.

Encountering Lin Bai, even death had become a luxury! This man was too terrifying! Stalling for time? What a joke... Lin Bai was a born Evil Spirit; Tang Lanling was definitely no match for him!

With a complex expression, Cu Wushuang slowly descended. She took a deep breath, burying all her grievances deep inside, and cupped her fists towards Lin Bai. "Thank you, Alliance Hierarch, for your magnanimity in overlooking Wushuang's earlier rashness."

"Senior Sister Cu?" Jiang Yuru, seemingly astonished that her few words had persuaded Cu Wushuang to come down, stared with wide eyes.

"Junior Sister Jiang is right; misunderstandings are best cleared up. It was our mistake to attempt infiltration as spies. Putting ourselves in your shoes, we deserve to be punished." Cu Wushuang forced a smile. "Only by experiencing it firsthand can one truly appreciate the power of the Rules. Junior Sister, the Alliance Hierarch is magnanimous, and we mustn't continue down the wrong path. We should wholeheartedly support the Justice League."

Jiang Yuru was stunned.

Xin Shang and the others immediately looked at Cu Wushuang with new eyes. She was adaptable, knowing when to yield and when to stand firm—a truly formidable opponent!

...

"And I thought she was so brave. Turns out she's just another shameless one."

"NPCs being too intelligent isn't always good. They surrender after a few words. Not a single one with any real backbone. So disappointing."

"The ones with backbone are either dead or turned into Puppets. NPCs only have one life, so naturally, they can't be as reckless as Players. When it comes to fighting Lin, the Storekeeper, it still falls to us Players!"

"If his Separation of Love can't be broken, it's hard for Players to fight him. During upward flight, it's obvious that skills can't be used. To defeat him, one would need to learn some skills or martial arts that involve descending from the sky."

"Come on, Lin, the Storekeeper's Lightning Storm is invincible below Golden Core, and then there's Separation of Love. Your ideas are too naive."

"The Lightning Storm relies on the recorder. If we destroy the recorder or use electromagnetic interference to disrupt its playback, we can neutralize his Lightning Storm."

"Electromagnetic interference? Are you sure we can create something like that in the game?"

"The appearance of the color printer and recorder implies that technological items are allowed in the game. Why couldn't electromagnetic interference be made?"

"Insulation suits are better than electromagnetic interference; they're simpler."

"We could also carry lightning rods and set up a Lightning Avoidance Array."

"You're all missing the point. Shouldn't we be wondering if Players can learn this move? Lin, the Storekeeper just mentioned that even if one can't comprehend Cupid, they can still comprehend Divine Skills independently..."

"Once Lin, the Storekeeper reveals this new skill, the number of Players trying to romance NPCs will surely skyrocket. I wonder how many lucky ones will trigger this hidden skill?"

...

"Old Deng, you're Lin Bai's direct disciple. You're the most likely to learn this skill!" Dragon Breath nudged Dumbelldore's shoulder, speaking to him privately. The two, who had both come from Jiamucheng, were initially at odds but had become the closest of friends, often hanging out together.

"Learn what? After I mastered Dragonfall Palm, Lin Bai hasn't taught me any new skills. I suspect he only took me as a disciple to get close to me and understand Player characteristics." Dumbelldore sighed. "I haven't seen any sign of him giving me special treatment! That Staff of Love back then, he gave it to Lao Mi, not me. Now, Little Fox and Jiang Qingqin are his disciples. Those two have the looks and the figures; it's debatable whether he'll even remember me in the future!"

"Don't be discouraged. Lin Bai doesn't seem like someone who acts without purpose. Maybe a turning point is just around the corner." Dragon Breath glanced at Dumbelldore, offering comfort. "In any case, you're much better off than I am. I initially took Qing Feng as my master, thinking I'd found a great expert, but it turned out to be nothing. The crucial thing is, I met Lin Bai before you did. Where am I supposed to go to find any fairness in that?"

"..." Dumbelldore turned to look at Dragon Breath. "Thanks, brother. Comparing myself to you really does make me feel a lot better!"

"..." A vein throbbed on Dragon Breath's forehead. "Deng Cancan, I've got a mouthful of curses I'd like to give you."

"Alright, alright." Dumbelldore chuckled. "Big Dragon, instead of wanting to curse me out, you'd better give me some ideas on how to coax more skills out of Lin Bai. I always feel there's some hidden trick to Lin Bai's Path of Rules. Otherwise, with so much time passed and so many natives and Players, it shouldn't be that only Lin Bai repeatedly succeeds in cultivation while everyone else makes no progress at all!"

...

The live audience and Players, each with their own thoughts, were all commenting on Lin Bai's new skill.

The Beggar Gang's stream traffic surged once again.

「Offline.」

Lonely Old Man was pensive. He had just suggested to Lin Bai that he create a big scene, and before the words had even left his mouth, something new had emerged.

Should he really make a move against such a cooperative NPC? Perhaps it's better to wait until Lin, the Storekeeper, is no longer useful before acting against him! Lonely Old Man sighed with a hint of regret.

...

"Sect Leader Xin, I wasn't wrong, was I? Love and justice are eternal. As long as we persevere, the Justice League will definitely grow stronger." After meeting up with the people from Hundred Flower Valley, Lin Bai said with a smile to Xin Shang and the others beside him.

"As long as you're happy." Xin Shang glanced at Lin Bai with a helpless expression, not wanting to comment on Lin Bai's actions. Whether it was due to a twisted sense of humor or simply his nature, Lin Bai had indeed grasped the weaknesses of all the Justice League members.

Jiang Yuru and Cu Wushuang wore awkward smiles.

"Alliance Hierarch, what do we do next?" Jiang Yuru stiffly changed the subject.

"First, we go persuade the Morning Yuan Sword Sect to join the Justice League. Then, we'll visit Medicine King Valley and Spirit Artifact Pavilion, in that order," Lin Bai said. "Outside Qian City, the Descended Ones are growing rapidly. We must expand the Justice League's influence as quickly as possible to neutralize the catastrophe these Descended Ones might bring."

Phew!

Jiang Yuru silently breathed a sigh of relief. She finally understood why Lin Bai had brought out all the people from the five evil sects.

Stalling for time was indeed a terrible idea.

However, Lin Bai putting Hundred Flower Valley last indirectly fulfilled the Valley Master's instructions. Their trip hadn't been entirely in vain.

"Have everyone board the ships. We'll detour through Jiamucheng first, then head to the Morning Yuan Sword Sect." Lin Bai surveyed the crowd, issuing orders as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Silver, inform our undercover agent in the Morning Yuan Sword Sect of our plans. Tell their Sect Leader that the gates of the Justice League are always open to them, and they shouldn't remain obstinately unenlightened."

"Yes," Silver replied.

Xin Shang and the others were taken aback. "Alliance Hierarch, isn't that a bad idea?"

Shen Kuang chimed in, "Yes, the Morning Yuan Sword Sect excels in offense. If they are forewarned and set up an ambush, we might suffer casualties."

"Old Shen, Old Xin, you're making the same mistake as Hundred Flower Valley!" Lin Bai glanced at them with a smile. "With the Descended Ones around, no action is truly secret. Instead of sneaking around, it's better to inform them directly. It makes us appear open and righteous, and it also creates psychological pressure for them. Subduing the enemy without fighting is the best strategy."

Xin Shang and the others looked towards the numerous Players, a flicker of understanding in their eyes.

...

Each sect had its own means of transportation.

However, Golden Core Monks preferred to travel by Wind Control. After all, compared to the dark and cramped flying ships, Wind Control was freer and more flexible. The amount of Spiritual Power consumed by Wind Control was negligible.

Lin Bai, accompanied by his two bodyguards, traveled alongside several Sect Leaders.

Realizing the power of the Rules, Xin Shang and the others naturally no longer avoided Lin Bai. Since he repeatedly claimed he wanted to spread the Rules, it was only natural for members of the alliance to inquire about the Cultivation Rules!

After two or three days of contact and observation, they gradually let down their guard around Lin Bai. Perhaps, as they suspected, Lin Bai couldn't use the Arrow of Love or the Power of Rules as freely as he wished.

Ge Feiyun asked, "Alliance Hierarch, is it possible to comprehend Divine Skills without fully grasping all the Cultivation Rules of the Love Principle?"

"Correct," Lin Bai replied.

"When I observed Lin, the Storekeeper, using the Separation of Love Divine Skill in combat, it seemed so effortless. Are all Divine Skills like that?" Ge Feiyun asked further.

"More or less. So far, the Divine Skills I've comprehended are the Art of Divination from the Way of Incompleteness, and Separation of Love from the Love Principle," Lin Bai said with a smile. "Let's not talk about Divination; I'm not proficient, only able to divine an opponent's name. It's a rather useless ability. Separation of Love, however, was a pleasant surprise. That truly is the law moving with the heart's intent, without even consuming internal Spiritual Power. It's quite miraculous."

He glanced at Cu Wushuang beside him and said, "That's why, even knowing Senior Sister Jiang and the others' intentions, I couldn't help but use it. Ultimately, it was just an excuse to test the Divine Skill's power. After all, Hundred Flower Valley wasn't exactly on our side at the time, so I had no psychological burden attacking them... Senior Sister Cu, if I caused any offense, please forgive me."

Your explanation is worse than no explanation at all! So, I was just the unlucky one, huh? If you hadn't sent me that voice transmission with all those words, I might have actually believed you!

Cu Wushuang shot Lin Bai a resentful glance, then said with feigned composure, "It doesn't matter. If I had newly mastered a Divine Skill, even if surrounded by allies, I probably couldn't resist testing it out either."

Using Separation of Love actually consumed no Spiritual Power.

Xin Shang and the others exchanged glances, their hearts pounding.

Zhao Tulong asked, "Alliance Hierarch, does it truly consume no Spiritual Power?"

"Why would I deceive you?" Lin Bai glanced at him. "Otherwise, why would I say that the Rules will eventually replace the current path of cultivation?"

"Alliance Hierarch, if we both cultivate the Love Principle, why did you comprehend Separation of Love while Qing Qin has gained nothing?" Jiang Yuru suddenly asked.

Xin Shang and the others simultaneously perked up their ears. Indeed, this was the question that concerned them most.

Jiang Qingqin also looked at Lin Bai with a puzzled expression.

"Perhaps it's because Qing Qin isn't pure enough in her conviction!" Lin Bai looked at Jiang Qingqin with pity. "My Master once told me that the greatest taboo in the Path of Rules is wavering. Once you begin cultivation, you must firmly believe that the Rules definitely exist.

Any shred of doubt regarding the Rules will lead to failure. This might be why Qing Qin hasn't mastered the Divine Skill. After all, I only introduced the Path of Rules to the world a short month ago. It's normal for people to have doubts."

"..." Jiang Qingqin's face turned deathly pale, as if she had missed out on something incredibly precious. She looked at Lin Bai, her voice choked with emotion, "Master, I was wrong. I did indeed doubt the existence of the Rules many times. I won't do so again."